Harvest Results

YEAR END HARVEST REPORTS

Highlights: Weather – 2019 was a difficult weather year. In April we had a hard frost that reduced our fruit harvest from 48,333 pounds in 2018 to 31,467 pounds in 2019 and in May the average temperature in Corrales was 9 degrees cooler than in 2018. That slowed plant growth. Once the weather warmed up, it turned hot almost overnight. During our peak tomato harvest which is in August and September, the average temperature was 2 degrees higher than in 2018. That affected fruit set on the tomatoes as well as the length of time it took the tomatoes to ripen.

Highlights: 2018 was an extraordinary year. Thanks to a mild spring, no late frosts and some much needed rain during our summer “monsoon” season, we had a record harvest. We donated a total of 87,935 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Highlights: In 2016, we had a poor tomato harvest because it was hot and tomatoes do not set fruit once the temperature exceeds 85 degrees. We addressed this problem in 2017 by planting twelve tomato varieties that were developed to withstand high heat. These varieties set fruit despite the high temperature and we harvested 18,988 pounds in 2017 compared to 15,898 pounds in 2016. However, the tomatoes were slow to ripen. When we had our first hard frost in October, the vines were still covered with large, green tomatoes.

Highlights: Covering the squash and cucumbers allowed us to harvest before the squash bugs killed the plants. We added a 3rd garden. Tomatoes were disappointing, but working with local orchards offset the shortage resulting in our best year ever.

Highlights: We got the root knot nematodes and broad leaf weeds under control and built a shed on site for storage of equipment. The squash bugs annihilated all squash, melons and cucumbers. We also experienced herbicide damage.

Highlights: A disappointing year due to drought, hail and root knot nematodes. The greenhouse was completed. We purchased a plastic mulch layer for the tractor. Keep New Mexico Beautiful gave us a grant to plant an orchard

Highlights: Officially became a 501(c)3. Harvested a bumper crop of fruit, resulting in the implementation of gleaning as an ongoing initiative. Built a greenhouse. Donated 65,238 pounds of produce to 15 pantries.